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Peter Johnson, MD, has a lot of experience. In addition to medical school, he did a four-year residency in obstetrics and gynecology, followed by two ears of cancer research training at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, followed by a three-year fellowship in gynecologic oncology at the University of Minnesota.

And still, he says he learns something new every day.

“That’s part of the excitement of what I do,” he says.

A gynecologic oncologist at Aurora BayCare Medical Center, Dr. Johnson specializes in treating gynecologic cancers, including endometrial, cervical and ovarian cancers. He’s also the first gynecologic oncologist in the state of Wisconsin to use state-of-the-art robot-assisted technologies for gynecologic surgery.

“We’re making huge strides using the latest technologies,” he says. “I’m doing surgeries robotically that I never would have believed possible.”

In 2015, it was estimated that more than 98,000 women would be diagnosed with a gynecologic cancer, with more than 21,000 of those women being diagnosed with ovarian cancer. And although ovarian cancer only accounts for about 3 percent of all cancers in women, it is still the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women—making it the deadliest gynecologic cancer.

That’s why it’s important to see a gynecologic oncologist, says Dr. Johnson, and not just a gynecologist or a general surgeon, no matter how highly trained they are.

“Gynecologic oncology is a specialty, just like cardiology,” he says. “If you have a complex heart problem, you want to see a doctor who’s specially trained in medicine for the heart. Gynecologic oncology is no different.”

Still, he says, only one-third to one-half of women with gynecologic cancers seek out a specialist for their treatment.

“But it’s been shown time and time again that having a gynecologic oncologist can help improve your survival,” says Dr. Johnson.

Symptoms of gynecologic cancers include persistent feelings of bloating, changes in bowel or bladder habits, feeling full quickly when eating, and pelvic or abdominal pain or pressure.

“Persistence is the key thing to watch out for,” says Dr. Johnson. “If these symptoms are happening daily for two to three weeks, that’s when you need to come in for an ultrasound.”

Another factor to consider is genetics. For example, 15 percent of diagnosed ovarian cancers are identified as being genetically related. So if someone in your family has a history of gynecologic cancer, you might be wise to come in for that ultrasound.

If your ultrasound is suggestive of cancer, the next step is surgery. But don’t be alarmed—with minimally invasive and robotic techniques, these surgeries are now more common than ever.

“At least 80 percent of my patients have robotic surgery,” says Dr. Johnson. “It is incredible to me that we can do these complex surgeries, and then send our patient home the next day. Most of them, the day after surgery, are sitting up, fully clothed, saying, ‘Can I go home now, Doc?’ ”

In all of his experience, Dr. Johnson has pretty much seen it all. Women who come in because their doctors suspect cancer, but ultimately get a clean bill of health. Women who have very straightforward, easy cases to manage. And women who have literally 20 different medical problems, cancer being just one.

And no matter what, they all get the same special treatment.

“I want to be an expert physician,” says Dr. Johnson. “I want to be available as much as possible and as quickly as possible. I want to provide hope, and expert care, and a place where my patients feel safe.”

To learn more about gynecologic cancers or to schedule an appointment, call 920-288-8280 or go to aurorabaycare.com/cancer.